Condenses and separator for compressed air



J. G. McDOWELL. CONDENSER AND SEPARATOR FOR CONDENSED AIR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 25| I919.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-25, I919.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAY GRIFFITH MCDOWELL, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONDENSER AND SEPARATOR FOR COMPRESSED AIR. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed August 25, 1919. Serial No. 819,658.

certain new and useful Improvements in Condensers and Separators for Compressed Air, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to compressed air apparatus, and particularly to means for removing moisture and grit from compressed air.

The general object of my invention is to provide mechanism operating automatically to remove from compressed air or other fluid the moisture thereof and any grit, dust or other foreign matter which might be carried into the separator by the compressed air or other fluid.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of this character including a recepe tacle into which moisture is discharged, so mounted that when a predetermined quantity of liquid has collected in this receptacle, the liquid may be automatically discharged therefrom.

A. further object in this connection is to provide a receptacle of the character described which is vertically shiftable and which is normally held in a predetermined receiving position by a counter-weight, and which, when a predetermined amount of liquid has gathered in the receptacle, will descend against the action of said counterweight, and in descending will 'cut off communication with the interior of the condensing and separating chamber and will open automatically a discharge valve per mitting the draining of the receptacle, the return movement of the receptacle causing the cutting off or closing of the discharge valve and the opening of communication between the receptacle and the interior of the separating tank.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, showing in full lines the discharging position of the mechanism. and in dotted lines the normal or receiving position thereof;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the l1 ne of Fig. 1 with the parts in their discharging position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 but showing the parts in their receiving position;

Flg. a is a sectional view through one end of one of the members 22, showing the de-.

tent 39 partially in section;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the tubular valve 19;

Referring to these drawings, 10 designates the outer cylindrical wall of a condensing and separating chamber having an inlet pipe 11 and an outlet pipe 12, the latter being located at the upper end of the chamber and extending to any suitable discharge point from a cap 13 having screwthreaded engagement with V the wall 10. The bottom of the chamber is formed by plate of head 14, and disposed within the chamber between the top and bottom thereof are a plurality of cone-shaped screens 15 of fine wiremesh supported by a series of sleeves 15. The compressed air enters at the inlet 11, passes upward through the screens, which act as filters, and out through the outlet pipe 12. This compressedv air is expanded when it enters the chamber 10 and, therefore, the moisture in the air con- (lenses within the chamber 10. This moisture and the dirt or grit which is carried in by air are separated by the screens which thus permit the dry air to pass through to the outlet while the water and grit drop to the bottom of the tank by gravity. For the purpose of receiving the water and grit and automatically discharging them, I have provided the mechanism now to be described.

Below the bottom 14 there is disposed a receptacle 16, illustrated as globular in form, though it might be of any suitable shape, and having an exteriorly screwthreaded neck 17.

Extending downward from the bottom 14 is a T 18, open at its ends, and having its medial branch screw-threaded into the bottom 14. 'Rotatabl'y disposed within the horizontal portion of this T is a rotatable, cylindrical, tubular valve 19, which is open at its ends and exteriorly screw-threaded at its ends, the screw-threads on one end being reverse to the screw-threads on the opposite end. This tubular valve 19 is long enough to extend at each end beyond the open ends of the T 18 and is provided at its middle with a port 20 which, when the tubular valve is rotated a quarter turn, is adapted to register with port 21 formed in the valve casing or T 18. Then the valve 19 is in its normal position, the port 20 opens into the upwardly extending branch of the" T and receives moisture which is discharged from the lower end of the container 10.

It will be understood that the tubular valve 19 is rotatable within the T 18 and so formed that it has air-tight engagement therewith. Screwedon t 16 ends of the tubular valve 19 are the U-shaped members 22, the tubular valve being prov ded. with a head 23 whereby it may be rotated by means of a wrench. Engaging the outer ends oi these U-shaped bends 22 is a tubular valve .24 which is also reversely screw-threaded "at its ends for engagement with the ends of the U-shaped' bends 22 and provided at its middle with a port This tubular valve 24 rotates within a valve casing or. T

26 having a downwardly extending medial branch 27 interioily screw-threaded for en this valve is formed witlra float adapted to open when a predetermined quantity of water has collected within the receptacle. Preferably, this float is assisted in its opening by the valve being provided with a valve stem 34 adapted to come in contact 'ith the lower, angularly bent end 35 of a rod 36 which is attached to the bottom 14 and de pends therefrom. This mechanism, it will be seen, is such that normally the counterweight 30 holdsthe'free end of the valve structure upward as in Fig. 3, thus closing communicationbetween the port and the port 211 and opening communication between the air chamber 10 and theinterior of valve 19 so that liquid may llow into the valve 19 and through the bends 22 into the valve 24. The casing 26 being rotatably nounted upon the valve 24 and having its projecting branch "2? always vertical, it follows that when the valve 24 isin approximately the same horizontal plane as the valve 19, the port will be out of register with the discharge branch 27- of the valve casing. When, however, suflicient water has collected within the parts formed by the valve 19', the bands 22, the valve 24, and the resepta 'le" the weight of the .water will overcome the resistance of the counterthe water in the receiver.

downward, the valve 19 acting as an axis 7 for thisswinging movement, and this will 7 cause the 'ports'20 andthe upwardly extending branch of the valve casing 18 to more out of register with each other while the ports 20 and 21 come into register. Thus, communication is cut off between the valve structure and the chamber 10 and at the same time the port 21 is opened so as to'permit the discharge of compressed air from the interior of the casing. The same moven'ient of the valve structure causes the port 25 to move out of register with the branch 27 and the downward movement of the recepta le 16 after it reaches a certain point causesthe upward movement of the valve 32 to discharge the water fromchamber 16.

Now it is imperative to prevent the downward movement of this valvestructure and the receptacle 16 until the receptacle is full of water or the water has reached a predetermined point therein. To this end, l provide a detent 37 which engages with a notch 38 formed in the upper endof one of the bends 22, this detent 37 being mounted within a socket 39 formed in. the angularupper end of a rod 40 and urged 'outwardby a spring 41, V The lower end of this angular rod 40 has attached thereto a iivoted counterweight 42 which resists'any movement'of the rod 40. ltiwill be seen that this detent with the rod 4O will tend'to prevent any rotary movement of the bend 22 having the notch 38 until the weight of water within the receptacle 16 is so great as to overcome the weight 42, whereupon the valve casing19 with the bends 22 will rotate, as before described, from thenraised to their lowered positions. As soon as the notch 38 has sprung past the detent, the detent will swing back into position a ain, and when the water has been discharged from the receptaclelG, the counter-weight 30 will turn the parts in their initial'position and the detent 37 will be forced inward against the action of the spring 41' until the detent bears again against the notch 38 when the parts are in position to receivewater from the separating chamber 10. It will be understood that the weight 30 is just heavy enough to carry the valve mechanism and the receiver 16 back into their raised positions when the water has been discharged from the receiver. weight 42 is a little less than the weight of It will be seenthat this device is entirely automatic in its action, and that by this means the water. and grit orother foreign matter collected within the chamber are antomatically discharged fromtime to time, thus preventing the chamber 10' from-be- .comingfilled with water or foreign matter.

The mechanism is simple, may be easily-ap- The weight of the counterplied and easily assembled and disassembled. It is adapted to beused wherever it is desired to separate compressed air from the moisture and grit which may be carried therein. 0f course, from time to time the receptacle 10 may be blown out by means of the blow-out cook 43.

While I have illustrated a form of my invention which I believe to be thoroughly effective and which has relatively few carts, I do not wish to be limited to this, as the principle of the invention might be applied in many difierent ways. Thus, the shape of the receiving vessel or receptacle 16 might be readily changed, the shape of the discharge valve might be changed, and the means for resisting the downward movement of the receiver or receptacle 16 might be variedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

While, I have heretofore referred to the use of my invention for the purpose of removing grit and moisture from compressed air, I do not wish to be limited to this, as the mechanism might also be used to remove dirt and moisture from'gases such as natural and artificial fuel gases, gases used for welding, etc., in other words it might be used for eliminating moisture and foreign particles from any vapor or gas.

I claim r 1. A mechanism of the character described including a chamber having a liquid outle a vertically movable receptacle into which the liquid outlet discharges and having an outlet Valve, a counterweight yieldingly supporting the receptacle in a receiving posi tion but yielding upon the collection of a predetermined quantity of liquid within the receptacle to cause the descent o'fthe receptacle and the opening of the outlet valve. the descent of the collecting receptacle automatically acting to cut oil' communication between the receptacle and the said chamber, and a yielding detent yieldingly impeding the downward movement of the receptacle until the weight of the receptacle and the water therein overcomes the detent.

2. A mechanism of the character, described including a chamber, a tubular open-ended valve casing attached to the bottom of the chamber and communicating with the interior thereof, a tubular valve rotatably mounted within said casing and having a port which, when the valve is disposed in one position, communicates with the chamber, approximately U-shaped bendsconnect ed to the end of said valve and extending therefrom, a tubular open-ended valve connected to the opposite ends of said bends, and a valve casing loosely surrounding the last named tubular valve and having a branch extending at right angles therefrom,

detaining the valve structure and receptacle in their raised positions.

3. A mechanism of the character described including a chamber, a liquid collecting receptacle, a tubular member pivotally connected to the chamber and to said receptacle and forming a conduit between the receptacle and the chamber, said tubular member when it is in anapproximately horizontal position connecting the receptacle to the chamber and when it is in a depressed position cutting off communication between the chamber and the receptacle, a normally closed outlet valve in the receptacle opening upon a descent thereof to discharge the contents of the receptacle, a counter-wei ht operatively connected to the tubular member, yieldingly holding it in a horizontal position but permitting its descent when counter-balanced by a suflicient weight of water in the receptacle, and a counter-weighted detent yieldingly resisting the downward movement of the receptacle until sufficient weight of water has accumulated therein.

i. A mechanism of the character described including a chamber, a liquid collecting receptacle, tubular member pivotally connected to the chamber and to said receptacle and forming a conduit between the receptacle andthe chamber, said tubular member when it is in an approximately horizontal position connecting the receptacle to the chamber and when it is in a depressed position cutting off communication between the chamber and the receptacle, a normally closed valve in the receptacle opening upon a descent thereof to discharge the contents of the r ceptacle, a counter-weight operatively connected to the tubular anember, yieldingly holding it in a horizontal position but permitting its descent when counterbalanced by a sufficient weight of water in the receptacle, said counterweight being just suflicient to counterbalance the receptacle and its allied parts but not suliicient to counterbalance the receptacle when liquid has collected therein, and a counter weighted detent adapted to yieldingly resist the downward movement of the receptacle until sufiicient weight of water has accumulated there in, said detent comprising an angular rod pivotally supported at its upper end and having a counter-weight at its lower end, the upper extremity of the angular rod haviiig a spring-pressed detent projecting there'- 7 from, said tubular member having a tooth .tooth and yieldingly restraining the movement of said receptacle until the weight of the receptacle and the water therein overcomes the detent.

6. A mechanism oi? the character described including a chamber having a liquid outlet, a vertically movable, swingingly mounted receptacle into which said liquid.

outlet discharges, said receptacle having an outlet valve normall closed but automatically opened by the descent of the receptacle to a predetermined position, a counter poise yieldingly supporting the receptacle in a raised receiving position, said counterpoise having a weight only slightly greater than the weight of the receptacle itself to cause the return upward movement of the receptacle when the water has been completely discharged therefrom whereby said receptacle will remain lowered until all the liquid has been discharged therefron'i, and means imposing the downward movement of the receptacle until a predetermined quantity of liquid has collected. therein and including an annular member mounted concentric'ally to" the axis of rotation of the swinging receptacle and moving with said receptacle, said annular member having a ratchet notch in one face to provide a tooth, and a yielding detent engaging saidnotcli and holding the annular member and receptacle from swinging downward until the receptacle has received a predetermined quantity of liquid.

7; A mechanism of the character dethan the weight of the receptacle itself to cause the return upward movement of the receptacle when the water has been completely discharged therefrom whereby said receptacle will remain lowered until all. the liquid has been" discharged therefrom, ieans impeding the downward movement of the receptacle until a predetermined quantity of liquid has collected. therein and including anannular member mounted concentrically to the aXis of rotation of the swinging receptacle and moving with said receptacle, said annular member having a ratchet notch in one face to provide'a tooth,

and a pivoted detent engaging said notch,

and means yieldingly holding the detent trom rotation upon its pivot to thereby hold the receptacle in a raised position until a predetermined quantity of liquid has collected therein.

8. A mechanism or ceptacle adapted to receive liquid and having an outlet valve, a counterweight yieldingly si'ipporting the receptacle in araised and receiving position but yielding upon the collection of a predetermined quantity of liquid within the receptacle to permit the descent of the receptacle and the opening of the outlet valve, a member moved by the receptacle as it falls or rises, and a yielding detent engaging said member and yield ingly restraining the movement of said re ceptacle until the weight of the receptacle and the water thereon overcomes the detent.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature.

JAY enirririi MoDOWELL.

the character described including a vertically movable re- 7 

